Given the choice, I’d rather spend my time with a cat than a dog. There, I said it. I actually like that cats are rather aloof and self-sufficient. I’m also not prepared to go out in all weathers to exercise and clean up after a dog. A litter tray? that’s fine with me. So it should come as no surprise that I was drawn to the Nine Lives Stamp Set in the Stampin’ Up! 2019 Occasions Catalogue. I love the combination of small images and sentiments, and of course the three main cat images.
Nine Lives is a two-step stamp set which means that if you want, you can stamp an outline and then stamp colour or detail over the top. The set also coordinates with the Cat Punch in the 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue. This is great, but I know some people have had difficulties getting everything lined up. So for today’s Simple Sunday project I thought I’d show you my solution on video.
BOOKMARK DETAILS
My bookmark blank is a piece of Thick Whisper White Card cut 2″ x 5-1/2″, then punched with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.
I used Stampin’ Sponge to add some Pear Pizzazz and Balmy Blue ink to the surface.
Then I finished the bookmark with Silver 3/8″ Metallic-Edge Ribbon, threaded through the slot and fixed into place with a Mini Glue Dot on either side.

The stamped and punched cat was finally attached with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).
Nine Lives

Did you know that a group of domesticated cats is called a clowder? Well I created a clowder with four members – there’s a ginger (orange), a tortoisehell (calico), an (almost) black, and grey tabby.
For the bookmark in my video I used the grey tabby colours (bottom right of the four shown).
A black cat is definitely more difficult to do without losing most of the detail, but I know from my own cat Houdini that a black cat is not one solid colour. When I look closely at him I can see stripes, especially on his head. I hope this explains the combination I’ve chosen for the ‘black’ cat above.
Once I created my cat samples I wrote the colours used on the back of each one and then put them in the case with the stamps. Now whenever I go to the set I have some colour ideas at my fingertips.

Right now though, Houdini is complaining quite loudly that his breakfast is not ready. So I’d better go sort that out before he settles down for his nap and I head back into my craft studio.
Whatever you’ve got planned for the day, I hope you’re able to find a little time to be creative too.
That was a nice idea to include the colour chart, Tracy! Thank you! Of course, we are like-minded on this subject for multiple reasons. However, the ones you have listed this morning, most especially on mornings such as this, yes indeed! 100% with you there! š TFS too =^^=
Thank you Geraldine. I may well experiment with some other colour combinations for the cat.
Thank you for the color combinations and great tips for stamping the cats.
A fellow cat lover! Marty
Thank you Marty